There are some mesmeric bits in here, which belong to Siddiqui. But those are not enough. Without those crucial elements, the film is rendered atmospheric yet hollow, and we are turned into cringing voyeurs, into reluctant participants, without redemption.

Raman Raghav 2.0 has only good performances to watch else the film is surely not worth your ticket price. Since there are multiple releases this Friday, pick this only if you are an ardent Nawazzudin Siddiqui or Vicky Kaushal fan, because the film holds no promise of entertaining you.

Kaushal displays a lot of brave acting, including a terrific confrontation scene with his father (Vipin Sharma in a brief appearance). There is real good cinema in that scene towards the end of the film, and also a reminder that Kashyap has a lot of talent. He just needs to stop making films that are very similar.

The biggest problem with Raman Raghav 2.0 is that it glorifies the gore. The climax monologue will run your patience thin. Can you buy the logic that killing for insanity is better than killing in the name of religion? It is crude, callous but in trying to whip up suspense, it loses sight of vulnerability.

Though RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 promises to be an edgy thriller, the film fails to deliver. It is only Nawazuddin’s brilliant performance that helps you sit through this 140 mins long film.

Watch it for Nawaz and Vicky’s jugalbandi act, but don’t go expecting a tight murder drama.

Raman Raghav 2.0 is strictly meant for Anurag Kashyap fans. The film maker is known to make films that are hatke, and Raman Raghav is no exception to that.

Raman Raghav lacks the vulnerability of Ugly. It’s just black. It could be in a Swiss account. In theatres it just seemed pointless to me.

As the film’s final credits roll down, you have an unsettling feeling about it. Torn between your strong tug to appreciate the quirky bent of mind and slam the filmmaker’s over indulgence, you are left in lurch unsure about what to say about the movie. In such a scenario, one thing is certain. You definitely didn’t like what you saw. The material had potential but the vision was clouded by the need to prove a point.

If you are a normal human being with normal emotions and sensibilities, stay away from this one by miles. With this film, Kashyap reaffirms that he is not a bit interested in the normal audience, even if he can con some, and many internationally at obscure festivals, into admiring such undiluted nauseating bilge.